Mervyn

I was a regular user of OFX to pay for overseas holidays in foreign currency and previously had no issues with their service.

However I have now had issues with 2 attempted payments from AUD/JPY to a Hong Kong based travel company. These payments were attempted on the 12/8/25 and re-attempted on the 2/9/25. The first attempt resulted in my funds being returned minus a fee with no valid reason for the rejection.

The second attempt on the 2/9/25 was also held up by OFX's intermediary bank. I was advised that this was due to an OFAC (USA) compliance review, of which I provided answers to all their questions on the 12/9/25 after I was requested for this information by OFX. I was requested similar compliance questions again from OFX's intermediary bank on the 3/10/25.

Users should be aware that if your transfers are caught up in a "Compliance Review" by OFX intermediary banks in the USA- it is frustrating and time consuming trying to get an accurate answer as to the status of your transaction by OFX.
Although OFX customer service reply's to your queries they do not appear to have the ability to expedite a solution.

The 2nd payment attempt was finally paid to the recipient on the 6 October 2025 (over 5 weeks after the transaction was done).

I have not received any communication from OFX advising that this was eventually paid - I received a confirmation from the recipient. I appreciate that OFX uses an intermediary bank, however this is part of their internal process to deliver a paid service - and is obviously not working as it should.

I will be organizing payments through another means.